Hi all! I'm back.

Thanks for waiting! I hope I haven't lost anyone because it took so long to post this. I've had this ready for a couple of days but my internet shat itself :(

Anyway...Thankyou to everyone who reviewed. you kept me smiling through my first weeks at work.

some notes on the following piece:

There is some very un-frenzy-like behaviour in this chapter. I had the dialogue run through my head while I was on the train, so I apologise if it creeps you out.

I would like to credit StarSwoop for a bunch of ideas that have been flying around my brain while I was supposed to be concentrating on work. I acknowledge that I have been quite mean to Cameron and I would like to be...nicer. StarSwoop suggested a romance between Cameron and Ratchet, and since she brought this up little snippets of stuff have been buzzing through my head so;

If you want to see Cameron have a romantic fling before this ends please vote for either Ratchet, Jamie Watson or anyone else you want to see her with. This is conditional to how many vote. If not enough people review she will be alone.

Enjoy! It may be some time before another is posted...Sorry

Chapter 25

Cameron patrolled the base. She was sure that she would run into either Slider or Frenzy. She needed their help if she was going to contact her mother. Mentally she berated herself for convincing her father to by a telephone that told you where the person was calling from.

On the way to a check up with Ratchet, Cameron heard explosions and the sound of guns from outside. Suppressing a sigh she followed them.

Not surprisingly Barricade and Frenzy weren't fitting in as well as Cameron had hoped they would. She had spent the last two days keeping an eye on the Decepticons and they seemed focused on wreaking havoc on the peaceful base.

Barricade was being especially troublesome since Frenzy had taken to disappearing; he seemed to find it very fun to push Ironhide's buttons until the weapons specialist was willing to rip him to pieces.

At the moment he was taunting Ironhide, who was practicing on the firing range. His dark, rough voice teasing the trigger-happy Autobot about past battles and Decepticon victories.

Cameron noticed the dangerous situation and feared that at any moment now Ironhide would change his target and blow Barricade's head off.

"Barricade I want you to remain with Jazz today. He will teach you the benefit of a tactical withdrawal." She said in an effort to diffuse the situation.

The large Decepticon frowned. "I think I will remain here."

Cameron smiled sweetly and lashed out with a whip of Allspark energy. It raked down his back, searing sensory nodes with hot power. Cameron felt the sensors react to the powerful energy spike. Barricade flinched and shuddered before glowering at her and walking off. Satisfaction simmered in Cameron's veins as the large mech sulked away.

"Ironhide, you shouldn't let him rile you. It will just put a strain on your systems and then you'd have to join me with Ratchet."

Ironhide just grumbled, muttering something about interfering Decepticons. Cameron shrugged and headed for her appointment.

Ratchet was puttering around his medbay as usual. A selection of medical tools hung perfectly from hooks on the wall while another set lay protected within a clear cabinet. Cameron wasn't sure if it was made of glass or something else that was see-through.

Cameron sauntered in just as the medic had started to pace.

He glowered at her. "You're late."

Cameron raised her hands defensively. "I had to stop 'Hide from killing Barricade. Sometimes I think that the mech wants to die, he's constantly pestering Ironhide."

"I don't see why you wanted them to remain with us instead of in custody." Ratchet grumbled.

She scowled at him. "You know full well that the only 'custody' that would hold them would be the kind that involves Sector Seven. The kind that they used on Bumblebee."

"How do you know about that?" Ratchet peered at her closely. "I didn't think Bumblebee discussed what happened within the dam. He only told me and Optimus because I am his medical officer and Prime is his leader. I know he hasn't told Jazz or Ironhide. Did Prime tell you?"

"No. The Allspark was there remember?" Cameron replied. "It could feel Bumblebee's fear, pain and anger. I know everything you have ever done or said while you were near the Cube."

The medic stared at her for a moment before picking her up and placing her on the large table. She sent Ratchet a thankful smile and started at wander over to the instruments on the wall. The sight of the massive medical tools sent shivers through her body. "So what are we doing today?"

"I will be conducting some preliminary tests on how your skin is converting into metal."

"'Kay." She linked her hands behind her back and waited for the scans.

"I cannot perform the tests if you are standing." Ratchet said calmly as he ushered her to a human-sized examination table. "Remain still and relax."

Cameron tried not to fidget as a series of beams and scans raced over her body. She could feel the mild energy pulses as they roved over the joining of skin and metal, focusing on the very fine line where her skin merged with the Cybertronian alloy. The most concentrated pulses flittered over her collarbone and bared stomach. The small electrical fields sent shivers through her body. Slowly her body relaxed as the pulses sent nice sensations through her muscles.

By the time the examination was over Cameron was terribly unsteady on her feet as she climbed off the table. Ratchet's finger appeared next to her, she hugged it to avoid falling. It felt strangely nice to hold the cool metal, she unconsciously clutched at it tighter.

"Are you done Ratch?"

"Yes, I believe Optimus wanted to discuss some matters with you."

Cameron nodded and allowed the medic to help her back to the floor. With a wave goodbye she hurried to find the Autobot leader.

He slid through the shadows, past dark corridors and gloomy rooms. He had to hide, remain unseen. Only then could he obtain any kind of rest and relief. He couldn't let her find him. She was dangerous, she knew too much. It would have been easier on him if she had died that day with Starscream.

A painful jolt past through his spark as the thought ran over his neural processor. No, he could never really wish that she had died.

Then again, he could wish that he had died that day instead. Then he wouldn't have to deal with the confusing emotions within him now.

Being around her was torture. Seeing her bright face was painful. Hearing her voice was agony.

Too bad he was a glutton for punishment.

Even as he tried to avoid her he was drawn near to where she was. Hiding in vents or behind pieces of furniture he spied on her, memorizing every facet of her personality, imprinting her image on his cortex. She would never be his but he could carry her with him always, secretly.

Environmental scans told him that his target was approaching. Quickly he scampered back into a dark room. He monitored her through the wall as she walked straight past his hiding spot.

As soon as she had disappeared down the hall, Frenzy berated himself on the foolishness of his brand new affections. They would be his downfall, he knew they would. She was the very reason he couldn't return to the Decepticon main base when they finally returned to Cybertron. Soundwave would only have to scan him once to know that his weakness was an Autobot. Then the torture would begin. Frenzy could just imagine his brother, Rumble, laughing himself into stasis because Frenzy had fallen for an Autobot. The other Decepticons wouldn't be so nice. They would be as abusive as possible without incurring severe punishment. He didn't even want to think about what they would do to her if they ever caught her, no doubt they would force him to watch as they broke her.

Every senor and circuit in the little silver body chilled. He couldn't expose her to that sort of danger. He wouldn't allow his weakness to be abused. To protect himself and her, Frenzy resolved, he would remain as far away from her as possible.

It was the only way they could both survive. Alone.

Optimus Prime was sitting behind a massive reinforced steel desk when Cameron entered his quarters. Throwing a glance over the room Cameron saw that he really hadn't done anything to alleviate the starkness of the metal walls. There was a large platform against a wall that Cameron knew the Transformers used to sleep on. No, Ratchet had called it recharging. Cameron laughed quietly as she imagined the medic plugging himself into a wall to recharge his batteries. The Autobot leader looked up as the soft sound escaped her throat.

"Prime, really, I should contract an interior designer or something. This place is boring." Cameron said as a greeting.

"Good morning Cameron. Have you seen Ratchet already?"

"Yes Dad." She replied sarcastically. "He said you wanted to see me."

"Indeed. The contingent of human scientists will arrive in five days. There will be a medical practitioner amongst them, he will ensure that you are healthy."

"Prime, I haven't been 'healthy' for several years, and having over half my body made up of an alien metal will not encourage any doctor to sign a release form so I can leave the planet."

Optimus seemed to consider this. "That may be true. We will wait and find out what the human's tests reveal. Traveling to Cybertron may prove harder than having you pass a medical exam. So far your government seems unwilling to part with enough propulsion to remove us from the Earth's gravitational pull."

Cameron frowned. "There has to be a way to gather enough energy. What about using some energon? Isn't that explosive?"

Optimus nodded. "Energon could be used as an aid, but enough to successfully thrust us through space would seriously deplete any energy source that we used to manufacture it."

"Well we have five days to figure something out before the governments' lackeys try to take control."

Optimus' optics glowed with amusement.

"I'm going to find Slider and Frenzy. I need to call my Mum. I promised I'd call when I got to New York."

"But you are not going to New York."

"I know, but I had to tell her something." Cameron smiled and saluted as she exited the office.

Slider sat in the communications room, monitoring the security feeds from around the base. Her gaze ranged over the multiple screens, searching for any sign of the mini silver Decepticon.

He has to be here somewhere. She thought in frustration. A robot can't just disappear?

But he had, much to her irritation. Frenzy had just up and disappeared the day he and Barricade had arrived. Obviously he was still on the base, otherwise Cameron and Barricade would have said or done something. It wasn't as if he could turn into smoke…

With the idea of transformation in her head Slider began searching for a silver boom-box. If he wasn't scurrying around the base maybe he was hiding in plain sight.

Slider searched for over an hour but still came up with nothing. Scowling she turned away from the monitors. The missing Decepticon disturbed her; actually it mostly disturbed her that it seemed to be that only she couldn't find Frenzy. Earlier in the day she had heard Ironhide muttering about Decepticons. Why would they be hanging around an Autobot who so clearly wishes that they were deactivated?

Did he just not want to see her at all? Had she read more into his behavior at the barn than he had meant. The thought swirled through her mind and she grew increasingly certain that that was the answer. Frenzy didn't like her. In fact he obviously couldn't stand to be anywhere near her, thus his non-appearance.

Huffing angrily Slider threw some scrap across the room. She would show him, he wasn't the only one who could avoid someone.

Two days later

"Hey 'Hide. What are you doing out here?" Cameron asked when she noticed Ironhide standing by himself outside the hangar.

"Watchin'"

"Watching what?"

The weapons specialist gestured with his head. Cameron clambered up to his shoulder and followed his gaze.

Out on the white sand surrounding their base was Scorponok. The Companion was cavorting playfully amongst the dunes. Cameron smiled as she watched the very child-like way Scorponok scampered around in the sand. She looked up at Ironhide. The scowl that usually graced his face when watching the Decepticons was absent. He looked calm, almost content.

Cameron's smile widened and she jumped off the large shoulder, sliding down along his back, she landed with a light thud and moved back towards the doors.

"Doing something important?"

She turned back to find Ironhide's optics shining at her. "Kind of. I have to call my Mum. I promised. I figured Slider and Frenzy would help me."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

Cameron frowned slightly. The pair had been acting strangely for a couple of days now. But she was sure that whatever problem they were having would soon work itself out, she'd seen the way they looked at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

The next day

Cameron was sitting beside Optimus when an angry Ratchet stormed into the main hanger.

"Sup Ratch? Has someone welded your tools to the wall again?"

A dark scowl was the only answer she received.

"Aww. Come on Ratchet, I was only joking, what's got my favorite medic so cranky?"

"He's always cranky." Came a shout from the other side of the hall.

A wrench appeared in the medic's hand followed by a loud yelp of pain from Jazz. Cameron chuckled as the sporty transformer rubbed at his head.

"Spill it Ratch, we all know you're aching to growl about something."

The pale yellow mech watched her for a moment before grumbling. "That slagging Decepticon and Slider are at it again. They're sitting in my medbay snarling at each other. If this doesn't stop soon I'm going to turn them both into toasters. "

Cameron frowned. This is getting out of hand.

"Don't worry Ratchet, I'll deal with them. You just relax; we can't have you failing on us."

"Relax! How am I supposed to relax when there's no peace in this place."

"Like this." Cameron rested her metal hand on Ratchet's armor and sent a wave of calm energy through him. She felt the sensory nodes ease as the soothing power rippled through his systems. On the outside Ratchet twitched slightly before almost collapsing into a chair, the look on his face was content.

"That's a good medic." She murmured as she left the mechs behind.

Cameron went straight to the medbay but found no sign of either minibot. Sending tendrils of energy she focused on one signal.

She finally found Frenzy while he was slinking through the base. If she hadn't known better she would have thought the little mech was spying on them. But she did know better, enough to know that it wasn't security devices he was trying to avoid, it was Slider.

Cameron's poor little creation was being avidly avoided by the one mech she wanted to see most of all. Of course as soon as Slider had realized Frenzy was ignoring her on purpose she had started ignoring him back. Cameron had been watching with great amusement as the two minibots avoided one another. At least it had been amusing until it had started to affect their duties.

Back when the Decepticons had first arrived Slider would happily be in the same room as them while the other Autobots merely tolerated them. Now she scowled whenever either appeared and quickly escaped the room if they lingered, causing her duties to be only half completed. Frenzy on the other hand would just disappear whenever he saw her.

Dragging the mini Decepticon with her Cameron stalked through the base in search of Slider. Frenzy obviously didn't know what was going on as she hauled him along by the arm.

Cameron knew that he wouldn't attack her but he would definitely complain loudly if he knew what their destination was.

Using her bond with Slider to find the minibot, Cameron dragged Frenzy towards her. As soon as Slider saw her and Frenzy come through the door, she tried to escape. Cameron stopped her with a leash of energy.

Six little blue optics glared up at her, Cameron merely glared back. Hauling Frenzy around to stand next to Slider, Cameron restrained them both.

"This has gone on long enough. Optimus has had enough, I've had enough, even Barricade has had enough. We are sick of you two scowling at each other. Now, neither of you are leaving this room until you have sorted this out or you kill one another."

"You want us to kill each other?" Slider asked incredulously.

Cameron glared at her warningly. "If you two don't figure something out I will return the both of you to the Matrix."

The minibots stared at her in shock.

"But you created me. Would you really deactivate me?" Slider asked in a small voice.

Cameron felt her heart clench at the sad face. "I won't have dissention in my family. Get used to it now because as soon as we reach Cybertron there will be a lot of changes." She turned on her heel and left, shutting and locking the door behind her.

Slider was still reeling from Cameron's deadly promise. She watched as Frenzy flew to the door and tried to wrench it open. Slider knew it wouldn't work, Cameron had sealed them in using the Allspark. Instead she slumped against the wall and waited for Frenzy to calm down.

Venting harshly in frustration, the mini Decepticon leaned against the opposite wall, he frowned slightly. "This is t-torture." He clicked softly.

Slider snapped out of her gloom. "Being around me is torture?" she asked indignantly.

Frenzy looked unsure for a moment before replying. "Yes."

"You bastard!" she yelled, all her anger and hurt coming to the front. "How dare you say that! I have done nothing to you, nothing that would deserve this sort of treatment. I haven't even imposed on your privacy, even though Cameron wants our help…You're a fool. A complete idiot. I hope you realize that the only reason you and Barricade are still alive is because Cameron wants you to be. She doesn't want you to be deactivated, only Primus knows why."

"I never as-sked her t-to save me."

"You didn't have to. Cameron is the Allspark, she is a part of us all. Do you truly think your creator would just stand back and let you die?"

He gazed at her coldly. "She threatened to d-deactivate us. Did you think your c-creator would ever d-do that?"

Slider frowned, he was right, she hadn't thought Cameron would ever threaten her life. At least not seriously.

"The only reason she's angry is because you are a bastard."

"That isn't t-true…much."

Slider scoffed. "You're the one who started this fight."

"How? I was t-trying to avoid a c-confrontation."

"Exactly! You were avoiding me." To her horror her voice wavered at the end. Frenzy looked away from her anguished optics, but Slider had more to say. "Our lives are at risk because we can't get along. Just tell me why you are avoiding me, then we can tell Cameron we're okay and no one has to be deactivated." Her tone bordered on pleading.

"Why I'm avoid-ding you."
"Yes."

He hesitated. Slider laid a hand on his arm to encourage him. The little Decepticon stared at her hand before placing his over the top. Slider felt her spark begin to pulse fast.

He spoke calmly and without his usual stutter.

"You are an Autobot and my enemy. You stand for everything that I think is weak and stupid. Your leader is bent on 'noble sacrifice' and all the soldiers in your army are 'friends'. You are everything I cannot stand."

His piercing gazed made Slide want to remove her hand from him but his stopped her.

"And even though I know all of this and every molecule of my structure tells me it is wrong, I'm drawn to you. You are my weakness…and if any of the Decepticons found out, you would be in grave danger."

Slider could only stare as Frenzy spoke. Her spark pulsed so strongly she was sure he would be able to see its light through her armor. Controlling her urge to leap into his arms, she concentrated on what he had said.

"You were trying to protect me." She whispered.

Frenzy released her hand but Slider left hers on his arm. This was the most momentous occasion of her little life, and Slider had the feeling that it wouldn't last very long at all.

She was right.

"I can't be around you, it would endanger both of us if my thoughts were revealed."

Slider clutched at his arm almost desperately. "So this is it? We're stuck in a hate-to-love-you situation?"

Frenzy's only answer was a curt nod.

Slider's spark felt like it was being crushed as she realized that she would never be able to be with Frenzy the way Bumblebee and Jazz were together. She was so lost in her thoughts that she jumped when a small hand touched her chin. Jerking her face up, she saw Frenzy peering down tenderly into her optics.

"Be strong, we'll see each other again."

"On the battlefield?"

"Maybe. If that happens I'll have to kidnap you until the fighting is over." He replied with a smile.

Slider felt her spirits rise as Frenzy tried to brighten her gloomy thoughts. "I'll hold you to that."

"It's a deal then."

"What will you tell the Decepticons?"

"It's none of their business, all they'll know is that I love to hate you."

"I'll hate to hate you." She said softly.

He leaned closer and whispered in her audios. "Secretly, I'll love to love you."

A smile lit up Sliders face as she felt her spark expand. With a soft sigh she wrapped her arms around Frenzy's thin body.

They stood like that, unaware that door had been released.

Done!

What did you think? Not too soppy was it?

Please review and tell me. Plus vote for Cameron maybe-love.

TammyCat